Folding camera



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. ANDREN.

' FOLDING CAMERA. Y

No. 260,076. Patented June 27, 1882.

\ /ih esses I h- -U (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. ANDREN.

v FOLDING CAMERA.

No. 260,076. Patented June 2'7, 1882.

i: w: W l EEE ym I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBAN ANDBEN, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDING CAMERA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 260,076, dated June 27,1882.

.A pplication filed May 13, 1882.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBAN ANDREN, a citizenof the United States, residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex andState of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Folding Cameras; and I do herebydecl are that the sameare fully described in the following specification and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in folding cameras, and it isparticularly well adapted for the use of amateurs and tourists, as whennot in use it can be folded together with its focusing-glass andplate-holders in a very small compass, so as to be put away and carriedin a bag or case suspended from ashoulder-strap, or carried by hand, ina saddle-bag or otherwise, as may suit the convenience of the operator.With myimproved camera I use what are termed gelatine dry plates, atsupply of which may be carried by the operator, and, after being exposedin the plate-holder, temporarily attached to therear ofthe camera. Suchexposed plate may be removed at night or in a dark room or closet, ifconvenient, and a new plate or plates inserted in the plateholder, to beexposed at the proper time and place. Such exposed dry plates are to bewrapped or scaled up in light-tight envelopes or packages, as usual,until the tourist reaches a place where it is convenient to develop andfix the negative. If a sufficient number of the improved plate-holdersare carried by the operator, the exposed plates may remain therein untilconvenient to develop and fix them.

The invention is carried out as follows, reference being had to theaccompanying drawin gs, where Figure 1 represents a side elevation of myimproved camera when in use. Fi 2 represents a central longitudinalsection of it when in use. Fig. 3 represents an end view seen from theend where the lens is located. Fig. 4: represents a bottom view of thecamera when in use. Fig. 5 represents a plan view of u the camera asfolded together when not required for use; and Fig. 6 represents an endview of the same, also shown as folded together. Fig. 7 represents aplan view of the improved plate-holder, and Fig. 8 represents alongitudinal section of the same.

Similarletters refer to similar parts wherever (No model.)

they occur on the different parts of the drawings.

The camera is composed of the inclined bottom strip or frame, a, made ofwood or metal, and provided on its under side with a screwthreadedbushing, b, by means of which it may be secured when in use to thescrew-threaded upper end of an ordinary portable or other tripod, thelatter being, however, not shown in the drawings. To the rear end of theinclined frame or strip a is hinged by means of suitable hinges, d d, asshown, the square or rectangular hollow frame 0, to the under side ofwhich is secured the metal or other strip, 0, which serves as a supportboth for thefocusing-frame], with its focusing-glass f, when focusing anobject, as well as for the plate-holder Gr when taking the picture, suchfocusing-frame and plate holder being held in place against the rearopen end of the frame 0 in its lower end by means of the lip c on thesupport 0, and in its upper end by means of the metal springclasp ii,that is secured to top of frame 0, and pro vided preferably with a lip,h, adapted to lock the focusing-frame or plate-holder in light tightconnection with the frame 0, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

To prevent the focusing-framef from being accidentally dropped on theground when it is removed from the rear of the camera, I hinge it to thelower part of the frame 0, preferably by means of the toggle-jointhingesit, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and (5, which enables the lower edgeof the focusin g-fram e fto be swung downward clear of the lip c on thesupport 0 when not desired for use.

is is a screw-threaded bracket secured to the bottom strip, a, or madein one piece with it, to enable the camera to be used at a right angleand to be secured to the tripod in such a position, if so desired.

0 is a cloth, felt, or rubber packing-strip fastened to the rear of thehollow frame 0, so as to provide an absolutely light-tight joint betweenit and the focusing-frame or plateholder when either of them is in useon the camera.

Z is the lens-carrying bracket or support at the forward end of thecamera, which bracket is provided preferably with a foot, l, into whichis screwed the set-screw m, which passes through a slotted perforation,a, in the forward end of the inclined frame a, as shown in Figs. 2, 3,and 5, and by means of which the lenscarrying bracket 1 may be securedin position to the strip or bottom piece,a, and adjusted to and from theframe to allow for focal adjustment. The upper end of the lens-carryingbracketl is provided with a perforation, Z, for the reception of thestay-wire a, one end of which passes through said perforation and issecured in place by means of the set-screw l, which is screwed through aprojection, 1 attached to or made in one piece with the bracket 1, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2. The rear end of the stay-wire n is bent andadapted to be inserted in a perforation or equivalent device at the topof frame 0, as shown, and in this manner, after the bracket Z is securedto the bottom piece a and the set-screw l loosened, the frame 0 andfocusing-framef may be inclined forward or tipped back slightly partlyto com pensate for focal adjustment or to correct perspective errors intaking high objects from a low elevation, and after being so adjustedthe frame 0 and bracket 1 may be rigidly secured together bytightening-the set-screw l on the stay-wire n.

Between the lens-carryin g bracketland the inner end of frame 0 extendsthe tapering tube or bellows 0, made of cloth, rubber, or other suitablematerial, such tapering envelope being secured light -tight in its rearend to the frame 0 and in its forward end to the lens-carrying bracket1, it being preferably secured to the latter by means of theannularringp and screws 9 1) p in case the bracket 1 is made of metal;but, if made of wood, it may be tacked or otherwise atrached thereto.The inner periphery of the ring 12 is screw-threaded, as shown in Fig.2, to which is screwed the lens-ring q, in which the telescopiclens-tube q is longitudinally adjustable, either direct or by means of asuitable rack and pinion, to allow for focal adjustment of the lens.

When the camera is not required for use it is folded togethertemporarily simply by loosening the set-screw Z and removing thestaywire a from the bracket Z and frame 0, when the latter may be swungon its hinges toward the lens, so as to rest on top of strip a; or, itdesired to pack the camera away after removing the wire a, as abovedescribed, I prefer to remove the telescopic lens-tubes from bracket 1and detach the latter from the strip or frame a by unscrewing theset-screw m, after which the bracket 1 and tube or bellows o are foldedup close against the inner end of frame 0 and the latter swung flat downtoward and upon the strip a to the very compact position as shown inFigs. 5and 6.

The improved plate-holder which I use with my improved camera is carriedout as follows: It is composed of the frame Gr, covered lighttight atthe back by the plate or cover as shown in Fig. 8, and provided at itsbottom with elliptic or flat-springs 9'9 9', which serve as an elasticbed for the dry plate r, and by means of which thelatter is positivelypressed forward in correct focal position, in one end against theprojection g and in the opposite end against the locking-pin 9', thatpasses through a perforation in the frame G and is attached in its outerend to the spring-bar g, the opposite end of which is secured to theoutside of the frame G, as shown in Fig. 7.

g is the dark-slide, as usual on plate-holders, adapted to slide througha slit in one end of the frame G and be guided in grooves in the sidesand opposite end of the latter.

is the handle or bar of the slide 9 made as usual.

g" is a rabbet back of the projection g, for the reception of one end ofthe plate when placed into the holder.

This plate-holder is very convenient for inserting into it fresh platesand removing the same after exposure, which is done as follows: Toinsert a plate it is only necessary to withdraw the slide g and to placeone end of the plate 1" in the groove 9 back of the projection g, andafter pushing out the locking-pin g the opposite end of plater ispressed down upon the springs g g g sufficiently to allow thelocking-pin g' to pass in in front of the plate 1, when it is locked inproper focal position by the action of the spring 9 and springs g g g,as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, after which the dark-slide g is closed, asshown. To remove the plate 0 after exposure in the camera it is onlynecessary to remove the darkslide g and to release the locking-pin g bytaking hold of the bent end of spring-bar y, when the plate 'r isautomatically forced out at theend nearest to the locking-pin gsufficiently to be grasped by the operator and obliquely withdrawn fromthe interior of the plate-holder.

This plate-holder may be made double or single, to contain two or onedry plate, as may be desired.

Having thus fully described the nature, construction, and operation ofmy invention, I wish to secure by Letters Patent, and claim- 1. In acamera, the bottom strip or piece, a, and frame 0, hinged together at dd, in combination with the lens-carrying bracket l, tube or bellows 0,and the brace n, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a camera, the combination of bottom strip or piece, a, and frame0, hinged together, the adjustable and detachable lens carrying bracket1 l, tube or envelope 0, the adjustable brace or stay a, and set-screwZ, the support 6 e, and locking device h h, as and for the purpose setforth.

3. In a camera, the bottom strip or piece, a, and frame 0, hingedtogether, in combination withthe lens-carrying bracket Z l, tube orenvelope 0, hinged focusing=frame f f, support 6 e, and locking device hh, and adjustable stay or brace n, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a camera, the bottom piece, a, and

ICC

frame 0, hinged together, in combination with I In testimony whereof Ihave affixed my sig- :0 the lens-carrying bracket l l, tube or envelopenature in presence of two witnesses. 0, adjustable brace or stay n,set-screwm, and slotted opening a in the piece a, as set forth. ALBANANDREN.

5. The herein described dry plate holder, consisting of frame G,Witl1its back g and Witnesses: springs g g g, in combination with the rablHENRY OHADBOURN, bet g projection 9, locking device g g, and FRANCISALLEN. slide 9 as and for the purpose set forth.

